Apps for Kids — Getting the Most of Smartphone Games

Updated: February 27, 2015

From how to pick 'em to how to play 'em, here's your guide to downloading apps for kids and introducing them to your techie-in-training.

These days, toddlers and technology are nearly as linked as tots and toys — and there’s no reason to separate them if you’re selecting apps for kids smartly. Check out these guidelines for choosing and using smartphone games:

Look for interactive apps. The biggest advantage smartphone games have over TV for toddlers (and even some books) is that they offer opportunities for interaction. Look for apps for kids with lots to click on, multiple outcomes after those clicks (like sounds or changing graphics), and many skills to practice (listening, matching, counting, and more). Electronic flash cards and other overly repetitive smartphone games don’t engage little minds as much. (Though if you need to quiet your screaming toddler while you’re on a plane, by all means, let him pop virtual bubbles if it calms him down.)

Stick to trusted producers. Pretty much anyone with computer access can build and market mobile apps for kids; there’s little quality control, no matter how educational an app claims to be. So just as you would when choosing web sites for toddlers, look for apps from brands you already trust, like Sesame Street, PBS, and Nickelodeon, for age-appropriate and truly engaging content.

Read reviews of apps for kids. Before you download — or worse, waste your money on a paid game — check iTunes to see parents’ ratings of particular iPhone apps for toddlers. Visit CommonSenseMedia.org (especially if you’re looking for apps on other types of smartphones) to get objective grades on key game factors like educational value and ease of play.

Try them out. Only you know what might frustrate or scare your tyke, so play with those kids' apps yourself before handing them over to your eager beaver. Unfortunately, that means you might have to buy the games on your smartphone first and eat the cost if they turn out to be frightening or duds.

Set limits. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests keeping kids’ screen time to no more than two hours per day (and if your tot’s under two, the AAP discourages screen time altogether). Since minutes spent fiddling on your phone count toward that allowance, restrict your little one’s cell playtime. Set a timer for five or ten minutes for each session to let your child know when he’ll have to power down.

Play with apps together. Sure, smartphone games are great for keeping your little guy busy while you pee, finish a conversation, or do your hair, but you can up the learning quotient if you make the activity more social. For the ultimate toddler learning experience, ask questions (“What happens if you click on that flower?”) and offer encouragement (“Great job — you picked the right answer!”). Another nice bonus to this: It teaches your techno-tot that nothing’s more fun than face-to-face play.